Postal Inspectors: Beware Four-Wheeled Felons

DETROIT, MI -- Next time you see someone suspicious in your neighborhood, they might not be thinking about breaking into your house. U.S. Postal Inspectors say they might be intending to steal your identity.

Police arrested Frances and Aret Frangulyan after getting a 911 call about a suspicious car. Police caught them going through mailboxes.

U.S. Postal Inspector Carla Mendez said when police pulled them over, they found more than 750 pieces of mail in the car. That discovery led to a search warrant of the Frangulyan's home. Mendez said, "We found various identifying information, other people's credit card statements, a lot of stuff that didn't belong to them."

Postal inspectors also discovered the latest technology identity thieves use to commit their crime. Mendez said, "They can make credit cards, they can make drivers licenses, they can forge checks, there is check making software they can use to make checks that look pretty good, they look real to the banking system."

So how can you protect yourself from identity theft? Postal inspectors say you should keep track of all of your identifying information. "If you are mailing a bill with a check in it make sure to take it to a post office or a blue collection box."

You should also be aware of your neighborhood's mail delivery schedule. Mendez said, "Know when the mail person comes to your house and delivers the mail and try not to let it sit overnight or if you are on vacation forget to put a hold."

The suspects in this case were convicted. Frances Frangulyan received probation. Her husband, Aret is serving two years in prison on stolen property charges, larceny and id theft.

If you think someone's been messing with your mail, report it to Postal Inspectors! If you think someone has stolen your mail, click here.

You can also call 1-877-876-2455 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in all time zones.